TII Motorway Service Areas (MSA) Progress Thread

Bluetonic

JupiterKid wrote: »

I'm also annoyed to hear that the MSAs aren't providing a full 24 hour service. I

Believe you me if there was a demand which made it commercially viable then they would be open 24/7, but there isn't.

L1011

There are 24hr toilets, accessed externally from the back of the building. Which at least is a minor improvement over the old road facilities.

Jayuu

Brabus wrote: »

AFAIK there are plans for two MSA's on the M9, one near J2 Kilcullen and the other near J8 Kilkenny Link Road.

I wasn't talking about what the plans were. And realistically those plans are probably dead in the water for the next few years. I don't think the M9 justifies two stops.

flazio

There is an Esso station on the east side of Ballinasloe on the old N6 that stayed open 24/7, however soon after the Motorway opened it stopped the overnights.

veryangryman

I dont recall that ever being 24 hour but im open to correction

flazio

I most certainly can correct you, they used to switch off some internal lights but many an end of a 2am cinema shift did I pull in there for a quick mineral before heading home. You could walk in and pick anything from the store yourself. The night shift Gardaí were frequently seen there for coffee so it was always safe enough.

Pete_Cavan

As of today the NRA are seeking archaeological consultants in advance of construction for MSAs on the M6 , M8 and M9 . At least they are progressing to the next stage and it is a step in the right direction. Would it be wishful thinking to suggest the may be ready to go to construction some time next year? Of course the big question is will the funding be available.

Amtmann

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

As of today the NRA are seeking archaeological consultants in advance of construction for MSAs on the M6 , M8 and M9 . At least they are progressing to the next stage and it is a step in the right direction. Would it be wishful thinking to suggest the may be ready to go to construction some time next year? Of course the big question is will the funding be available.

Brilliant news. I think it might even be possible to start construction before the end of the year. Not sure what the time-lag usually is between archaeology and construction though. These MSAs are provided for in the Four-Year Plan and monies are available in 2011/2012 from my reading of the press releases at the time.
The junction 8 McDonalds/Topaz station is proceeding quite quickly now by the way... I think it will open by late April or May.

ongarboy

Tremelo wrote: »

Brilliant news. I think it might even be possible to start construction before the end of the year. Not sure what the time-lag usually is between archaeology and construction though. These MSAs are provided for in the Four-Year Plan and monies are available in 2011/2012 from my reading of the press releases at the time.
The junction 8 McDonalds/Topaz station is proceeding quite quickly now by the way... I think it will open by late April or May.

This is all good news but I wonder why the M7 is being overlooked at this point? If the privately developed Cashel MSS is opening, how come the NRA are prioritising a second MSS for the M8 before anything on the M7? Most long distance M6 travellers travelling to or coming from the east will also have the M4 MSS to avail of whereas there is nothing between Naas and Limerick for fuel unless you really want to drive kms off the M-way. The only food option is if you pull off at Midway foodcourt in Portlaoise. I'm not saying the other MSSs should be delayed but would have been nice to have M7 included in this latest announcement.

Amtmann

ongarboy wrote: »

This is all good news but I wonder why the M7 is being overlooked at this point? If the privately developed Cashel MSS is opening, how come the NRA are prioritising a second MSS for the M8 before anything on the M7? Most long distance M6 travellers travelling to or coming from the east will also have the M4 MSS to avail of whereas there is nothing between Naas and Limerick for fuel unless you really want to drive kms off the M-way. The only food option is if you pull off at Midway foodcourt in Portlaoise. I'm not saying the other MSSs should be delayed but would have been nice to have M7 included in this latest announcement.

I agree - it's bad prioritisation again, well partially anyway. The reason the M7 MSA isn't ready for archaeology as far as I know is because the EIS for the Nenagh and Mountrath service areas haven't been prepared yet. The Cashel MSA will be located 5km south of Junction 6 (Horse and Jockey/Thurles) and will offer a better level of service, I'd imagine, than the McDonalds/Topaz development, which might not even be 24-hr.

I think the M7 needs a service area close to Kildare, but that's not planned. Mountrath and Nenagh in due course, alone with the M9 Kilcullen MSA and the M8 MSA at Kilworth.

L1011

Wrong M6 and M8 ones to progress in my opinon (not that the other M6 one is possible atm) - they're just duplicating existing facilities very close to the road.

M9 one I can see being deathly quiet, but it would be handy.

I'm presuming these are single sided with bridge sites?

Amtmann

MYOB wrote: »

Wrong M6 and M8 ones to progress in my opinon (not that the other M6 one is possible atm) - they're just duplicating existing facilities very close to the road.

M9 one I can see being deathly quiet, but it would be handy.

I'm presuming these are single sided with bridge sites?

The M8 one will be situated off the southbound carriageway only, and will be accessible from the northbound carriageway via slip roads and an overbridge. The EIS for Kilworth hasn't even been started yet as far as I know, though that may change this year.

Pete_Cavan

Tremelo wrote: »

The M8 one will be situated off the southbound carriageway only, and will be accessible from the northbound carriageway via slip roads and an overbridge. The EIS for Kilworth hasn't even been started yet as far as I know, though that may change this year.

Seems like an awful waste to build two service areas at each site, one on either side of the road. They should all be built as one large MSA with a bridge to allow it to serve both side of the road. As most of the bridge is precast concrete and using an imaginative traffic management plan, temporarily diverting the traffic along the slip road up to the MSA while the precast elements are installed. It would probably only take a few days to install the bridge beams and deck and the traffic would only be disrupted for a few hundred metres, would be well worth it as it would save a few million.

Amtmann

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

Seems like an awful waste to build two service areas at each site, one on either side of the road. They should all be built as one large MSA with a bridge to allow it to serve both side of the road. As most of the bridge is precast concrete and using an imaginative traffic management plan, temporarily diverting the traffic along the slip road up to the MSA while the precast elements are installed. It would probably only take a few days to install the bridge beams and deck and the traffic would only be disrupted for a few hundred metres, would be well worth it as it would save a few million.

Well like I said, the MSA will only be on one side in the case of the M8 (and I presume the M6 and M9). A bridge will be built much like you suggested, with the works being conducted at night so as to ensure minimal disruption to M8 traffic.

spacetweek

Tremelo wrote: »

yThe junction 8 McDonalds/Topaz station is proceeding quite quickly now by the way... I think it will open by late April or May.

Can I just clarify what the junction 8 development is? Is this on the M8? If so it is not duplicating the proposed Cashel MSA?

Amtmann

spacetweek wrote: »

Can I just clarify what the junction 8 development is? Is this on the M8? If so it is not duplicating the proposed Cashel MSA?

It is a private Topaz-McDonalds development right at J8 of the M8 at Cashel. It will serve the M8, but also Cashel town and its hinterland. McDonalds will draw customers from Cahir and Thurles too. It was given planning permission just before motorway redesignation in '08 and went to construction late last autumn. I don't expect it would be as impressive or as useful as an NRA service area, but yes, it does/will duplicate what's on offer at the Cashel MSA eventually.

pat13wx

Tremelo wrote: »

It is a private Topaz-McDonalds development right at J8 of the M8 at Cashel. It will serve the M8, but also Cashel town and its hinterland. McDonalds will draw customers from Cahir and Thurles too. It was given planning permission just before motorway redesignation in '08 and went to construction late last autumn. I don't expect it would be as impressive or as useful as an NRA service area, but yes, it does/will duplicate what's on offer at the Cashel MSA eventually.

Can't wait!

Soon those of us who use this road very regularly will have a choice of where to top up and eat. Looking forward to this.

Sponge Bob

Yesterdays dailys had details of a compulsory purchase order for the M9 MSA south of Kilcullen. Just about here

medoc

Hi

I was just wondering what is been built at M7 Junction 14 [Monasterevin] southwest bound. Is it a service station of some type. Its under construction for a while now and I was curious as to what it is.

niloc1951

Tremelo wrote: »

Well like I said, the MSA will only be on one side in the case of the M8 (and I presume the M6 and M9). A bridge will be built much like you suggested, with the works being conducted at night so as to ensure minimal disruption to M8 traffic.

Why not copy what is often seen elsewhere in Europe, build the service area in the vicinity of an existing interchange or bridge.

Amtmann

I received this email from Ms McNally today:

I refer to your recent email regarding motorway service areas on the above routes.

While the Authority is currently seeking tenders for archaeological work on motorway service area sites at Cashel, Athlone and Kilcullen, a definite decision to proceed to construction on all three sites has not yet been made. The Authority is currently assessing the market interest in developing these service areas under a Public Private Partnership arrangement and a decision will be made on which service areas are to proceed, if any, on completion of this assessment.

That McDonalds/Topaz development at Cashel may hamper interest in the M8 Cashel service area.

L1011

We need to invite her to the next Infrastructure beers, seeing as she's almost as big a posting member as most (albeit indirectly!)

Carawaystick

Tremelo wrote: »

I received this email from Ms McNally today:



That McDonalds/Topaz development at Cashel may hamper interest in the M8 Cashel service area.

You mean save the taxpayer money, unlike what the nra did in Lusk?

Carawaystick

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

Seems like an awful waste to build two service areas at each site, one on either side of the road. They should all be built as one large MSA with a bridge to allow it to serve both side of the road. As most of the bridge is precast concrete and using an imaginative traffic management plan, temporarily diverting the traffic along the slip road up to the MSA while the precast elements are installed. It would probably only take a few days to install the bridge beams and deck and the traffic would only be disrupted for a few hundred metres, would be well worth it as it would save a few million.

Fingal CoCo built a bridge over the M1 at a new half junction with minimal closures or none, so where there's a will there's a way.

Pete_Cavan

Please make sure you are sitting before clicking the following link, what you are about to read may shock you...

http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY219335

Amtmann

McDonalds/Topaz have scuppered the M8 service area so. Bastids. They better be worth it.

Chris_5339762

The M7/8 corridor will be looking very bare soon. The one at Mountrath should be included in this.

Pete_Cavan

Tremelo wrote: »

McDonalds/Topaz have scuppered the M8 service area so. Bastids. They better be worth it.

As I siad in post #408, the tender process to appoint archaeological consultants for M6, M8 & M9 started in January. Contract Award Notices for M6 & M9 also appeared on the etenders website yesterday. M8 MSA must be dead.

Roryhy

I can't remember where i saw it but didn't the NRA say they were postponing the M8 one to see how the McDonalds setup did first and then they would review things?

Sully

Pete_Cavan wrote: »

As I siad in post #408, the tender process to appoint archaeological consultants for M6, M8 & M9 started in January. Contract Award Notices for M6 & M9 also appeared on the etenders website yesterday. M8 MSA must be dead.

How long does their review take before they consider/start development?

Amtmann

Roryhy wrote: »

I can't remember where i saw it but didn't the NRA say they were postponing the M8 one to see how the McDonalds setup did first and then they would review things?

It was in Leo's DoT briefing.

Pete_Cavan

Sully wrote: »

How long does their review take before they consider/start development?

According to the Contract Notice on the etenders website, the final date for submitting requests to participate is 13-06-2011 12:00. The four highest scoring candidates will progress to the tender stage. The estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender to selected candidates is 13-07-2011. I would imagine the final date for submission of tenders would be a couple of months later. It will take the NRA another month or two to assess the tenders. I'm sure it will be next year before we see them turn the sod on these MSAs.

Jayuu

Personally I think the M9 MSA is too close to Dublin.

By the time you've reached Kilcullen going northbound you're probably just going to keep going and finish your journey unless you have a real need to pull in. And conversely going southbound you've just started your journey so why are you going to stop so soon unless again you have to.

I think one MSA in and around the Carlow area would have been a much better concept for the M9.

Chris_5339762

I was also thinking that, but every time I've been at the Enfield and Lusk ones on the M4 and M1 (v close to Dublin) they're wedged with people.

L1011

M4 and M1 have higher traffic figures than the M9 and that traffic is going further too.

Amtmann

Official status update here. Cashel MSA is a dead duck thanks to Topaz and McDonalds. :mad:

L1011

Cashel was a terrible idea anyway, due to the propensity of services that the town has already easily accessible off its many junctions. The Topaz was planned before it was a motorway.

Manager in Mother Hubbards in Cashel told me today that their business is actually up since Topaz opened (its been all of a week, admittedly) and that they are considering an extension due to how full they can get at weekends. Seeing as they must have contracted after the bypass opened (the filling station closed, this is good to see.

NFD100

I despair. The 'Services' at Cashel is way too small. It doesn't meet international standards. It looks cheap and nasty. What were they thinking? HGVS? Parking? Safety?

dell1211

Athlone services are not needed, there are two very easily accessible service stations which are of motorway standard being Kilmartins(subway, mcdonalds, 4star, very good cafe, hotel all in the grounds of the service station) and Apple Green, all they are missing is truck parking. The NRA should not be wasting much needed millions on a project here.

Amtmann

MYOB wrote: »

Cashel was a terrible idea anyway, due to the propensity of services that the town has already easily accessible off its many junctions. The Topaz was planned before it was a motorway.

Should never have been given permission.

Services at J9: Mother Hubbards - overpriced and closes too early. Tesco filling station. Closes too early, nothing in shop.

J8: Topaz/McDonalds - dangerously curved approach road on a steep incline, not enough seating/parking, no separation of HGV from car traffic, dangerous for kids, people parking RIGHT beside the truck fueling area, confusing road markings.

J7: Esso garage 3km from M8, not 24hr, very limited food.

An M8 service area would have totally cleaned up in the absence of Topaz/McDonalds (which is already absolutely mobbed most of the time).

veryangryman

dell1211 wrote: »

Athlone services are not needed, there are two very easily accessible service stations which are of motorway standard being Kilmartins(subway, mcdonalds, 4star, very good cafe, hotel all in the grounds of the service station) and Apple Green, all they are missing is truck parking. The NRA should not be wasting much needed millions on a project here.

Kilmartins has truck parking for ~10 trucks around the service area also and is 24 hour. Add Dominoes to the list of restaurants.
Im sure im due commission for that marketing i just did


Apple Green aint 24 hour, but does boast a nice takeaway nextdoor. Bag of chips at 10pm without leaving the Dualler (much).

etchyed

NFD100 wrote: »

I despair. The 'Services' at Cashel is way too small. It doesn't meet international standards. It looks cheap and nasty. What were they thinking? HGVS? Parking? Safety?

I presume you already know this but just so everyone's clear: the Topaz/McDonald's at Cashel has nothing to do with the NRA. It was given planning permission before that section of N8 was redesignated a motorway.

harr

hi
does any one know when the private service station on the M7 at Monasterevin is due to open,i know they started recruiting for the supermacs already.

Amtmann

etchyed wrote: »

I presume you already know this but just so everyone's clear: the Topaz/McDonald's at Cashel has nothing to do with the NRA. It was given planning permission before that section of N8 was redesignated a motorway.

Very true of course; yet we do know for a fact that it has influenced the NRA to decide not to proceed with the Cashel MSA, for which they have been granted permission. It was specifically mentioned in Varadkar's briefing as a reason for mothballing the Cashel MSA.

NFD100

etchyed wrote: »

I presume you already know this but just so everyone's clear: the Topaz/McDonald's at Cashel has nothing to do with the NRA. It was given planning permission before that section of N8 was redesignated a motorway.

Yes, I know it's not NRA. it clearly isn't up to scratch!

L1011

Tremelo wrote: »

Should never have been given permission.

Services at J9: Mother Hubbards - overpriced and closes too early. Tesco filling station. Closes too early, nothing in shop.

Its food is pretty much the same price and time-availability as the A Cafe's in the NRA MSAs. I have to use MH and them quite frequently!

harr wrote: »

hi
does any one know when the private service station on the M7 at Monasterevin is due to open,i know they started recruiting for the supermacs already.

This the one at the junction at the far end? Didn't look near opening when I last passed it, which I'm having trouble remembering but was probably three weeks ago.

harr

MYOB wrote: »

Its food is pretty much the same price and time-availability as the A Cafe's in the NRA MSAs. I have to use MH and them quite frequently!




This the one at the junction at the far end? Didn't look near opening when I last passed it, which I'm having trouble remembering but was probably three weeks ago.

Yep thats the one, i was told 4 weeks by someone today but i cant see it been that quick.
It was a about 3 weeks ago i was over that way as well and it looked no where near finished.
http://www.kildare-nationalist.ie/tabId/201/itemId/6299/Green-light-for-motorway-service-area-at-Monastere.aspx

L1011

23 car parking spaces? I despair some times....

Pete_Cavan

NRA tendering for contractors for Advance Works Contract for M6 and M9 MSAs;

National Roads Authority wishes to procure a contractor to construct grade separated junctions (including a motorway overbridge) on the M6 and M9 motorways to provide access to proposed motorway service areas, which are to be constructed under a separate PPP Contract.

http://www.etenders.gov.ie/membership/Member_HistShow.aspx?ID=MAY226496

They intend to award this contract by October of this year with construction of Athlone and Kilcullen Service Areas by PPP Contractor possibly starting in mid 2012.

L1011

The NRA must not want to give the operators a huge contract if they're doing the really expensive bit of the work themselves.

Seperately, I suspect I'm paying Superstop's mortgage at this stage - doing my expenses there and at least 200 of the total ~700 for the month is fuel or food in them!